Combined cigarette and match box



Dec. 24, 1963 w. AsT 3,

COMBINED CIGARETTE AND MATCH ox Filed June 25, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR: WALTER AST Dec. 24, 1963 w. AsT 3,115,241

COMBINED CIGARETTE AND MATCH BOX Filed June 25, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. WALTER AST Unite 3,115,241 CUMBTNED CllGARlET'iE AND MATCH 36XWaiter Act, 23 E. Mmhet St, Long Beach, NX. Filed dune 25, 1962, Ser.No. 204,841 lll Claims. (Cl. 206-43) This invention concerns a matchbookand cover for a cigarette package.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a matchbook and coverattachable to the underside of a cigarette package to provide a smokerwith a source of conveniently located matches.

Another object is to provide a cigarette package with attached matchbookand cover.

A further object is to provide a novel blank for forming a matchbookcover attachable to a cigarette package.

Still another object is to provide a novel arrangement of a matchbook ina cigarette package.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cigarette package with attachedmatchbook and with matchbook cover in open position.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the cigarette package of FIG. 1 inclosed position.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view on an a enlarged scale ofthe open cigarette package of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of assembled matchbook cover.

IG. 5 is a top plan view of the assembled matchbook cover.

FIG. 6 is atop plan view of an open blank from which the matchbook coveris formed.

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of another cigarette package with adifferent matchbook thereon, the matchbook cover being shown in openposition.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary front elevational view on an enlarged scale ofthe cigarette package, matchbcok and cover of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 99 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of parts of the matchbook ofFIGS. 7-9.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a match assembly employed in thematchbook.

In FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 is shown a rectangular box, container or package 10containing cigarettes 12. The package has a flip-top cover 14. On thefront wall 16 of the package is secured a rectangular paper strip 18coated With a suitable match igniting material 2%. The strip is locateda certain distance above the flat bottom 22 of the package. Secured tothe rear wall 24 of the package near the bottom thereof is a rectangularwall 26 forming part of a cover 3% hinged at the wall 26.

The cover 3% as shown in FIGS. 15 has a match striking strip 32 securednear the upper end of wall 26 on its outer or rear side. The cover has afront double wall folded at its top edge F1 to define an innerrectangular section 33 and an outer rectangular section 34. The outersection 34 has lateral flaps 33 33' folded perpendicularly to the frontwall at corners F2, F3. These flaps are generally trapezoidal in shapewith narrower or shorter free edges at the rear of the cover. Theseflaps are secured to upstanding trapezoidal flap portions 42 42extending forwardly from wall 26 at folds- F7, F3 and upwardly frominner bottom rectangular flap portions 44*, 44 The bottom fiap portionsmay be pasted to a rectangular bottom section 45 which is integral with3,1 15,241 Patented Dec. 24, 1963 and extends forward-1y from the rearwall 2% at rear fold F4. Flap portions 42 42 are folded transverselywith respect to flap portions 44%44" at bottom folds F5, F6. A matchstriking strip 43 is secured to the underside of bottom section 4-5.

FIG. 6 shows a blank 50 from which cover 3% may be assembled. This blankis made from a piece of pliable paper, pasteboard or cardboard. It has agenerally rectanguJlar body with laterally extending flaps 38 38 whichmay be coated with adhesive 43 for securing these flaps to the outer orrear sides of flap portions 42 42 Flap portions 38 38 are to be foldedon lines F2, F3 perpendicularly to rectangular section 34. Therectangular end section 33 of the blank forms the inner section 33 ofthe cover when folded on line F1. Folds F5, F6 are to be made inalignment with fold F4 for defining rectangular flap portions'dd 44*which are cut free from rectangular section 45 and flaps 38 38 by twoL-shaped slits S1, S2.

The front upper end of the wall 26 can be coated with adhesive 27 forsecuring the upper part of this wall to the back of the package 10-.Strip 4-8 is secured to the underside of rectangular section 45. Section33 will be folded upwardly at fold F9 from section 45.

When the cover is mounted on the package Ell as shown in FIGS. 13, itdefines a closed compartment at the bottom of the package. The frontfolded edge F 1 abuts the strip 18 which serves as a stop member tolimit closing of the cover. The sides of the cover frictionally engageside walls 15 of the package to hold the cover closed. The cover caneasily be flipped o n by downward pressure on the front and side walls.The rear bottom part of the rear wall 2 6- will then bend backwardly online L as a hinge.

Secured to the underside of the package 10 is a matchbook 52 formed bypasting together the base ends 54 of a plurality of match assemblies 55,shown to best advantage in FIG. 11. Each match assembly has a pluralityof parallel slits 58 extending part way through a rectangular piece ofpaper to define parallel matchsticks 59 terminating on a common integralbase end 54. The free ends of the sticks are coated with an ignitablesubstance forming matchheads 53. The uppermost match assembly 55 has itsbase end 54 pasted by adhesive tilt to the underside of the packagebottom 22. The matches 61 can be removed one at a time by pulling themdownwardly and tearing them free of their integral base 541-. The freematch can be struck on striking strip 18 at the front wall of thepackage or on any of the other striking strips 32 or 48. If desired,another match striking strip 62 may be provided on the top 15 of packagecover 14.

FIGS. 71 show another matchbook 52 which can be provided instead ofmatchbook 52. The matchbook assemblies 55 have their base ends 54secured together by a staple 64 which is crimped at its free ends 65 toa rectangular tab es. The tab is folded forwardly at line 63 to define arectangular tab $9. This tab may be coated with an adhesive 7% andsecured to the underside 22 of package 16 The matches 61 can be removedfrom book di by pulling them forwardly and tearing them free from theirintegral bases 54. Parts of package ra corresponding to those of package1% are identically numbered. Cover 39 in package 19 is the same asdescribed above.

It will be noted that in both matchbooks 52 and 52, the match assembliesare disposed in a multiple layered array. The heads of alternate matchassemblies extend in opposite directions toward the sides of thepackage. The base ends of all the match assemblies are juxtaposed. Sincethe matchheads are free at the sides of the package, they can easily begrasped and torn free without disturbing other matches. Also, theoverlapped arrangement permits a more compact array of matches.

When the package is closed, the matches are completely concealed andprotected. The matches can be struck when the cover 31} is closed.Matches can be removed whether the cigarette cover 14 is open or closed.

The cover 3% and matchbooks 52 or 52 can be applied to existing types ofcigarette packages before or after the packages are packed withcigarettes. If desired, they can be provided as separate articles ofmanufacture to be applied to cigarette packages by smokers themselves orthe matchbooks and covers can be applied by manufacturers of thecigarette packages.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes andmodifications may be made within the scope of the invention as definedin the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a cigarette package having front, back, bottom and sides defininga container for cigarettes, a matchbook and cover assembly comprising amatchbook secured to the bottom of the container, said cover havingopposing side walls, opposing front and rear walls, and a closed bottom,said rear wall having an upper portion secured to the back of thecontainer and hinged at an intermediate portion thereof at the bottom ofthe container so that the remainder of the cover can swing free from thefront, sides and bottom of the container to an open position, and sothat the cover closes and conceals the matchbook at the bottom of thecontainer when the cover is closed thereunder.

2. In a cigarette package having front, back, bottom and sides defininga container for cigarettes, a mate] book and cover assembly comprising amatchbook secured to the bottom of the container, said cover havingopposing side walls, opposing front and rear walls, and a closed bottom,said rear wall having an upper portion secured to the back of thecontainer and hinged at an intermediate portion thereof at the bottom ofthe container so that the remainder of the cover can swing free from thefront, sides and bottom of the container to an open position, and sothat the cover closes and conceals the matchbook at the bottom of thecontainer when the cover is closed thereunder, said front wall of thecover having a free upper edge, and a match striking strip on the frontwall of the container spaced from the bottom thereof, said edge abuttingsaid strip and the side walls of the cover frictionally engaging thesides of the container when the cover is closed.

3. In a cigarette package having front, back, bottom and sides defininga container for cigarettes, a matchhook and cover assembly comprising amatchbook secured to the bottom of the container, said cover havingopposing side walls, opposing front and rear walls, and a closed bottom,said rear wall having an upper portion secured to the back of thecontainer and hinged at an intermediate portion thereof at the bottom ofthe container so that the remainder of the cover swing free from thefront, sides and bottom of the container to an open position, and sothat the cover closes and conceals the matchbook at the bottom of thecontainer when the cover is closed thereunder, said matchbook includinga plurality of match assemblies, each match assembly including aplurality of matches secured together to a common integral paper base,the bases of all the match assemblies being attached together, saidmatch assemblies being disposed in a multiple layered array with matchesof alternate assemblies extending in opposite directions away from thejoined bases.

4. In a cigarette package having front, back, bottom and sides defininga container for cigarettes, a matclbook and cover assembly comprising amatchbook sccured to the bottom of the container, said cover havingopposing side walls, opposing front and rear walls, and a closed bottom,said rear wall having an upper portion secured to the back of thecontainer and hinged at an intermediate portion thereof at the bottom ofthe con tainer so that the remainder of the cover swing free from thefront, sides and bottom of the container to an open position, and sothat the cover closes and conceals the matchbook at the bottom of thecontainer when the cover is closed thereunder, said matchbook includinga plurality of match assemblies, each match assembly including aplurality of matches secured together to a common integral paper base,the bases of all matcn assemblies being attached together by a staple toone end of a tab, the other end of the tab being secured to the bottomof the container.

5. In a cigarette package having front, back, bottom and sides defininga container for cigarettes, a matchbook and cover assembly comprising amatchbook secured to the bottom of the container, said cover havingopposing side walls, opposing front and rear walls, and a closed bottom,said rear wall having an upper portion secured to the back of thecontainer and hinged at an intermediate portion thereof at the bottom ofthe container so that the remainder of the cover can swing free from thefront, sides and bottom of the container to an open position, and sothat the cover closes and conceals the matchbook at the bottom of thecontainer when the cover is closed thereunder, said matchbook includinga plurality of match assemblies, each match assembly ineluding aplurality of matches secured together to a common integral paper base,the bases of all match assemblies being attached together by a staple toone end of a tab, the other end of the tab being secured to the bottomof the container, said match assemblies being disposed in a multiplelayered array with matches of alternate assemblies extending in oppositedirections away from the joined bases.

6. In a cigarette package having front, back, bottom and sides defininga container for cigarettes, a matchbook and cover assembly comprising amatchbook secured to the bottom of the container, said cover havingopposing side walls, opposing front and rear walls, and a closed bottom,said rear wall having an upper portion secured to the back of thecontainer and hinged at an intermediate portion thereof at the bottom ofthe container so that the remainder of the cover can swing free from thefront, sides and bottom of the container to an open position, and sothat the cover closes and conceals the matchbook at the bottom of thecontainer when the cover is closed thereunder, said front wall of thecover having a free upper edge, and a match striking strip on the frontwall of the container spaced from the bottom thereof, said edge abuttingsaid strip and the side Walls of the cover frictionally engaging thesides of the container when the cover is closed, said matchbookincluding a plurality of match assemblies, each match assembly includinga plurality of matches secured together to a common integral paper base,the bases of all the match assemblies being attached together, saidmatch assemblies being disposed in a multiple layered array with matchesof alternate assemblies extending in opposite directions away from thejoined bases.

7. In a cigarette package having front, back, bottom and sides defininga container for cigarettes, a matchbook and cover assembly comprising amatchbook secured to the bottom of the container, said cover havingopposing side walls, opposing front and rear walls, and a closed bottom,said rear wall having an upper portion secured to the back of thecontainer and hinged at an intermediate portion thereof at the bottom ofthe container so that the remainder of the cover can swing free from thefront, sides and bottom of the container to an open position, and sothat the cover closes and conceals the matchbook at the bottom of thecontainer when the cover is closed thereunder, said cover being formedfrom a flat rectangular blank sheet of paper having laterally extendingflap portions, said sheet being folded to define a plurality ofrectangular sections, two of said sections being folded on a firsttransverse fold to define a double front wall structure of said cover, athird one of said sections being folded on a second transverse fold todefine a bottom for said cover, a fourth one of said sections beingfolded on a third fold to define the rear wall of the cover, two of saidflap portions being folded rearwardly from one of the first-named twosections to form outer portions of the sides of the cover, a second twoof said flap portions being folded forwardly from the fourth section todefine inner portions of the sides of the cover abutting the outerportions, and a third two of said flap portions bent inwardly from thesecond two flap portions and overlaying the third one of the sections atthe bottom of the cover.

8. In a cigarette package having front, back, bottom and sides defininga container for cigarettes, a matchbook and cover assembly comprising amatchbook secured to the bottom of the container, said cover havingopposing side walls, opposing front and rear walls, and a closed bottom,said rear wall having an upper portion secured to the back of thecontainer and hinged at an intermediate portion thereof at the bottom ofthe container so that the remainder of the cover can swing free from thefront, sides and bottom of the container to an open position, and sothat the cover closes and conceals the matchbook at the bottom of thecontainer when the cover is closed thereunder, said cover being formedfrom a flat rectangular blank sheet of paper having laterally extendingflap portions, said sheet being folded to define a plurality ofrectangular sections, two of said sections being folded on a firsttransverse fold to define a double front wall structure of said cover, athird one of said sections being folded on a second transverse fold todefine a bottom for said cover, a fourth one of said sections beingfolded on a third fold to define the rear wall of the cover, two of saidflap portions being folded rearwardly from one of the first-named twosections to form outer portions of the sides of the cover, a second twoof said flap portions being folded forwardly from the fourth section todefine inner portions of the sides of the cover abutting the outerportions, and a third two of said flap portions bent inwardly from thesecond two flap portions and overlaying the third one of the sections atthe bottom of the cover, said matchbook including a plurality of matchassemblies, each match assembly including a plurality of matches securedtogether to a common integral paper base, the bases of all the matchassemblies being attached together, said match assemblies being disposedin a multiple layered array with matches of alternate assembliesextending in opposite directions away from the joined bases.

9. In a cigarette package having front, back, bottom and sides defininga container for cigarettes, a matchbook and cover assembly comprising amatchbook secured to the bottom of the container, said cover havingopposing side walls, opposing front and rear walls, and a closed bottom,said rear wall having an upper portion secured to the back of thecontainer and hinged at an intermediate portion thereof at the bottom ofthe container so that the remainder of the cover can swing free from thefront, sides and bottom of the container to an open position, and sothat the cover closes and conceals the matchbook at the bottom of thecontainer when the cover is closed thereunder, said cover being formedfrom a flat rectangular blank sheet of paper having laterally extendingflap portions, said sheet being folded to define a plurality ofrectangular sections, two of said sections being folded on a firsttransverse fold to define a double front wall structure of said cover, athird one of said sections being folded on a second transverse fold todefine a bottom for said cover, a fourth one of said sections beingfolded on a third fold to define the rear wall of the cover, two of saidflap portions being folded rearwardly from one of the first-named twosections to form outer portions of the sides of the cover, a second twoof said flap portions being folded forwardly from the fourth section todefine inner portions of the sides of the cover abutting the outerportions, and a third two of said flap portions bent inwardly from thesecond two flap portions and overlaying the third one of the sections atthe bottom of the cover, said matchbook including a plurality of matchassemblies, each match assembly including a plurality of matches securedtogether to a common integral paper base, the bases of all matchassemblies being attached together by a staple to one end of a tab, theother end of the tab being secured to the bottom of the container.

10. In a cigarette package having front, back, bottom and sides defininga container for cigarettes, a matchbook and cover assembly comprising amatchbook secured to the bottom of the container, said cover havingopposing side walls, opposing front and rear walls, and a closed bottom,said rear wall having an upper portion secured to the back of thecontainer and hinged at an intermediate portion thereof at the bottom ofthe container so that the remainder of the cover can swing free from thefront, sides and bottom of the container to an open position, and sothat the cover closes and conceals the matchbook at the bottom of thecontainer when the cover is closed thereunder, said matchbook includinga plurality of match assemblies, each match assembly including aplurality of matches secured together to a common integral paper base,the bases of all match assemblies being attached together by a staple toone end of a tab, the other end of the tab being secured to the bottomof the container, said match assemblies being disposed in a multiplelayered array with matches of alternate assemblies extending in oppositedirections away from the joined bases, said cover being formed from aflat generally rectangular blank sheet of paper having laterallyextending flap portions, said sheet being folded to define a pluralityof rectangular sections, two of said sections being folded on a firsttransverse fold to define a double front wall structure of said cover, athird one of said sections being folded on a second transverse fold todefine a bottom for said cover, a fourth one of said sections beingfolded on a third fold to define the rear wall of the cover, two of saidflap pontions being folded rearwardly from one of the first-named twosections to form outer portions of the sides of the cover, a second twoof said flap portions being folded forwardly from the fourth section todefine inner portions of the sides of the cover abutting the outerportions, and a third two of said flap portions bent inwardly from thesecond two flap portions and overlaying the third one of the sections atthe bottom of the cover.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,137,268 Kormanshaus Apr. 27, 1915 1,214,456 Hall Jan. 30, 19171,819,395 Trautwein Aug. 18, 1931 2,055,721 Gray Sept. 29, 19362,369,387 Williamson Feb. 13, 1945 2,944,555 Peel et a1. July 12, 19602,954,867 'Iacke Oct. 4, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 412,501 Great Britain June28, 1934 1,137,137 France Ian. 7, 1957

1. IN A CIGARETTE PACKAGE HAVING FRONT, BACK, BOTTOM AND SIDES DEFININGA CONTAINER FOR CIGARETTES, A MATCHBOOK AND COVER ASSEMBLY COMPRISING AMATCHBOOK SECURED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE CONTAINER, SAID COVER HAVINGOPPOSING SIDE WALLS, OPPOSING FRONT AND REAR WALLS, AND A CLOSED BOTTOM,SAID REAR WALL HAVING AN UPPER PORTION SECURED TO THE BACK OF THECONTAINER AND HINGED AT AN INTERMEDIATE PORTION THEREOF AT THE BOTTOM OFTHE CONTAINER SO THAT THE REMAINDER OF THE COVER CAN SWING FREE FROM THEFRONT, SIDES AND BOTTOM OF THE CONTAINER TO AN OPEN POSITION, AND SOTHAT THE COVER CLOSES AND CONCEALS THE MATCHBOOK AT THE BOTTOM OF THECONTAINER WHEN THE COVER IS CLOSED THEREUNDER.